“Harry,” said Sir Osvalt. “Or should I call you Haruya? I never would’ve guessed you were Himari’s brother. I heard that all her siblings had passed away.”
“Call me whatever you please. Until a moment ago, I thought Himari was dead, too. Himari and I fled from Murasame in separate ships, and I was told that hers was a decoy.” Haruya responded to Sir Osvalt’s comment, beginning to explain the situation.
I’d only recently learned about Himari’s escape to Parnacorta, but it sounded as if Haruya had been through quite an ordeal himself.
“I heard that the ship my brothers boarded, which headed to Ashbrugge—Murasame’s closest neighbor—was capsized by a barrage of gunfire,” said Himari.
“Well, that much is true. I was rescued by a fishing boat from Ashbrugge that happened to be nearby. I was the sole survivor, though I lost one of my eyes in the ordeal.”
“Did you really? I had no difficulty recognizing you. Your appearance may have altered, but you are still my brother.”
Haruya made it sound trivial, but losing an eye must have been traumatic for Harry. His escape had been at least as difficult and perilous as Himari’s.
“After that, one of the fishermen introduced me to a merchant, who let me stay at his home in exchange for my labor. Things weren’t easy, but as it turned out, I was a natural businessman. These days, I handle a considerable volume of trade.”
As unperturbed as he sounded, he’d obviously survived a rather devastating experience. I began to realize that these experiences helped lend him his mysterious aura.
“As relieved as I am to see you, Haruya,” said Himari, “you broke into ruins in this country and entered an internationally forbidden zone. There is no excusing your dishonorable conduct.”
“I know,” Haruya replied. “I committed a crime and got caught. I let temptation get the better of me.”
Despite having been reunited with her long-lost brother just moments earlier, Himari remained perfectly calm. Actually, no—there was a slight tremble in her voice that probably stemmed from shock, not anger. Their longed-for reunion had taken a curious turn.
“Haruya, no apology will suffice to–”
“I realize that. So can you convince your master to agree to my offer? If you do, I’ll be cleared of any misconduct. Not only that, but I’ll be even wealthier than I am now!” Haruya ignored Himari’s concern, instead choosing to make a shameless request.
“Excuse me?” Himari stared, furrowing her brow in disbelief. I’d never seen her so uncomfortable. “Haruya,” she said at last, “you shouldn’t even joke about such things in His Highness’s presence.”
“Who’s joking? You make me laugh, Himari. I’m just speaking my truth. From what I can tell, you’re on good terms with both His Highness and the esteemed saint.”
“Haruya!” Himari cried out as she drew closer to her brother.
Her voice was laden with complex feelings—not quite anger, but not quite despair. I got the impression that I was witnessing yet another unfamiliar side to her character.
“You were expected to become the next head of the Fuuma ninja clan. You used to be the most loyal person I knew! The brother I knew would never have approached his sister with such an insolent demand!”
It sounded like the Haruya that Himari once knew was a far cry from the man he had become. To Himari, he must have looked like a stranger.
“Loyal?” A dauntless grin spread across Haruya’s face. “Still clinging to those old ideals, are you? Trouble is, loyalty doesn’t put food on the table. More to the point, it won’t protect what’s most dear to you. It didn’t save us from getting torn apart, did it?”
“B-but…”
“Money’s good, Himari. It keeps you safe, and it doesn’t betray you. Loyalty? Well, that’s just an illusion that makes life easier for those who seek to control us.”
At long last, I was starting to see what the enigmatic merchant was all about. He was a realist through and through. Behind his impassive exterior was a tragic past, one where the intangible ideals he’d once believed in were crushed before his eyes.
No human heart could emerge from betrayal and loss unscarred. Maybe that explained the drastic change that Haruya had undergone.
“Haruya!” Himari, her emotions bare, grabbed Haruya by the collar. “Have you forgotten your Fuuma clan honor?! If you fail to regain your senses, I shall be forced to—”
I leapt to my feet in a panic, desperate to restrain her. “Calm down, Himari! Violence is not the answer!”
“My Fuuma clan honor? I left that behind long ago.”
“What?” Himari, her eyes wide with shock, let go of Haruya and sank to the floor in despair.
Those must have been the last words she wanted to hear. Her expression was even more fragile than before.
“From what I can see, you’ve found yourself another stifling job, working at someone’s beck and call.”
“Exactly what is wrong with that?”
“You know what I’m talking about. I’m your own flesh and blood, and I’ve succeeded in making something of myself. Leave those demeaning service jobs behind you. Come help me with my business.”
Himari was speechless.
“I’ll give you a few shops to take care of. Don’t worry, you’ll learn the ropes in no time. You’re a smart kid, after all.”
Haruya gently offered Himari his hand, as if he were trying to win over a troublesome child. He seemed confused that Himari wasn’t jumping at the opportunity.
They were blood relatives who’d been ripped apart, with no home to return to. Haruya was probably concerned for his sister, in his own way, and yet…
“Haruya,” said Himari softly, “I was so happy to discover that you were still alive. It was the gladdest moment of my life. Please don’t upset me now.”
“H-Himari?”
Himari staggered back up, giving Haruya a sorrowful look. “Lady Philia, Prince Osvalt… Forgive me. My trip to the palace and back has left me slightly worn out. Am I permitted to take a rest?”
“Uh, sure. That’s fine, Himari. Take your time. You deserve a break.”
Having received Sir Osvalt’s permission, Himari wasted no time in vanishing.
It made sense for her to be tired, but we all knew that wasn’t why she left. Still, it was best to give her some time alone. We all knew that, too.
Was there anything I could do to help?
I continued to stare at the door of the inn, long after Himari had left the room.
“All right. Let’s get this meeting underway. What do you say, Haruya?”
“My goodness. Still all business, Prince Osvalt? I have to say, that embarrassing incident has me shaken. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“Shaken? You certainly don’t look it.”
Once Himari had left and Lena had brewed some more tea, Sir Osvalt broached the topic of negotiations. While I was busy worrying about Himari, Sir Osvalt had remained cool and collected.
Haruya, meanwhile, hadn’t forgotten why he was there.
“I’m not as strong as you think,” he said, chuckling smoothly. “First off, allow me to apologize for using a fake name. That was rude of me. Thing is, I’m an exile, and since Ashbrugge is so close to Murasame, I was afraid to go by my real name.”
“You have your reasons. Your exchange with Himari made that clear,” said Sir Osvalt. “I don’t intend to bring that topic up again.”
It didn’t seem like a serious issue to me, either. For Haruya, the name “Harry Freyer” probably represented this new phase of his life. I agreed with Sir Osvalt’s decision to let it go.
“Your understanding is greatly appreciated. Prince Osvalt, Lady Philia—it appears that you’ve taken care of my younger sister, Himari. At some point, I want to repay that favor—and trust me, I pay well.”
Haruya bowed his head. He wanted to repay us with “something tangible.” How very typical of him—he was a merchant, after all.
“There’s no need for that, Haruya. I’m just glad you two could meet again. Himari told us that all of her relatives had passed away, so I was delighted to see her reunited with her brother.”
Sir Osvalt spoke reassuringly, a note of cheer in his voice. He was sharing his true feelings, and I felt the same way. I was so relieved that Himari wasn’t completely alone in the world. Anyone who knew her circumstances would have agreed.
“I don’t get it. I tried to make Himari quit her job with you, prioritized money over loyalty, and, frankly, behaved rather disrespectfully in your royal presence. What’s with this olive branch?”
“Is it really that strange? I understand you were trying to help your sister, and there’s nothing wrong with a merchant trying to make money. You weren’t rude, either. Your reasons for abandoning your old oaths make perfect sense.”
As much as it seemed to confuse Haruya, Sir Osvalt was an understanding person. If Himari had wanted to join her brother, I doubt he would have stopped her.
There was no one as compassionate and kind as him. As for me…
Himari, going to work for Haruya? My heart ached at the thought. Somehow, the mere idea of it made my chest tighten.
“I’m grateful for your accepting nature, Your Highness. If it’s not too much to ask, I’d like you to extend that open-mindedness toward accepting my offer.”
Sir Osvalt laughed. “You’re going overboard now. Philia and I are unwilling to compromise on our convictions. That’s why we need to negotiate, right?”
As generous as he was, Sir Osvalt’s benevolence had its limits. He took my feelings into account, too, and made it clear that our minds would not be easily swayed.
From the outset, I got the feeling that these negotiations wouldn’t be smooth sailing.
“Whew. Thing is, I’m in a bit of a bind here. I’m usually a pro negotiator, so I was confident I could steer the conversation at my own pace—even with royalty. However…”
Shrugging his shoulders, Haruya fixed his gaze on Sir Osvalt.